Freaked Out Rooster

[mykel]

My poor top rooster got chased by a dog almost two weeks ago. He ran under our barn and has not come out since. For the first few days he was still crowing, but he doesn’t even do that anymore. My two other roosters have clearly taken over his job of big guy on campus.

From what we can see, he is not injured. Twice a day I go out and throw food under there, and he comes to the edge of his hiding place to grab what he can reach. My question is, am I enabling him by feeding him? Should I force him to come out for food, or is it better for him to gain confidence and come out when he’s ready?

 

[Wezdin]

If possible I would force him out, are you sure he doesn't come out at all?

 

[centrarchid]

Odds are he is still being chased when he comes out, very likely by the new bosses.

 

[mykel]

If possible I would force him out, are you sure he doesn't come out at all?

There are only four hours in a day when someone isn’t home. I’m sure he’s not coming out since I can’t even get him to come out for food two feet away but still under the barn. He won’t leave the concrete slab he’s sitting on.

 

[mykel]

Odds are he is still being chased when he comes out, very likely by the new bosses.

That’s what I’m afraid of. He’s an Americauna and about 3/4 the size of my two lavender Orpington roosters. They’re monsters! But Carlos (freaked rooster) was full grown when Jay and Todd were chicks, so Carlos has always had the intimidation factor— until now. I’m thinking that’s why he has stopped crowing, too.

 

[Wezdin]

That’s what I’m afraid of. He’s an Americauna and about 3/4 the size of my two lavender Orpington roosters. They’re monsters! But Carlos (freaked rooster) was full grown when Jay and Todd were chicks, so Carlos has always had the intimidation factor— until now. I’m thinking that’s why he has stopped crowing, too.

If he has stopped crowing then I would definitely say centra is right.

 

[centrarchid]

I would catch him and check him for health issues as well. Most of the time a defeated bird will move away from foes and often setup a new territory there.

Fear can be an issue making him shut up. I have a young game stag that briefly got into a fight with an American Dominique that was much larger. The stag got thoroughly thumped not by the Dominique, but rather by one of my dogs. The dog drug the rooster by tail and wing to far side of house (about 75 yards) and would not let the stag get back into the fight. Dog pulled all but one tail feather and good part of wing feathers from one wing. The dog was serious about not letting stag back to where he wanted to go or even near other penned roosters. Since, the stag has not crowded once to my knowledge and he makes no effort to fight other roosters in pens. Dog generally leaves him alone otherwise. The stag knows getting into a fight gets him into a very unpleasant situation. He will come out of it with time, but pushing will not help.